Isolation and Madness: Lighthouse Horror

In the realm of isolation and relentless natural forces, Small's Lighthouse off the coast of Pembrokeshire, Wales, stands as a testament to the extreme conditions faced by lighthouse keepers. Situated on a tiny rock, barely larger than a basketball court, Small's Lighthouse remains an isolated outpost in the vast expanse of the ocean. The treacherous waves, especially during storms, engulf the rock, leaving only the cylindrical tower visible amid the tempest. Small's Lighthouse holds the distinction of being the farthest from any inhabited area, a staggering 32 kilometers or 20 miles from the nearest land. Lighthouse keepers were therefore at the mercy of nature's fury, akin to prisoners awaiting liberation.

In 1801, two keepers, Thomas Howell and Thomas Griffith, found themselves stranded on Small's Lighthouse for four excruciating months due to relentless storms. Unable to land boats, they faced isolation with dwindling supplies. When Griffith fell fatally ill, the distress signal was raised, but help remained elusive. After his death, Griffith's decomposing body, placed on the gallery, inadvertently created a macabre illusion, resembling a waving figure to passing boats.

The psychological toll on Howell was immense. With each passing day, the isolation deepened, and the waving corpse became an eerie companion. When finally rescued, Howell emerged emaciated and psychologically scarred, prompting a change in lighthouse policy to ensure a minimum of three keepers, preventing a recurrence of such a nightmarish ordeal.